Shoe fitting apparatus and method



Se t. 14, 1965 E. J. BARTKOWSKI 3,205,578

SHOE FITTING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Aug. 29, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

Edward j Bart/gawk! DominiK g. La o DfiZbrneI s Sept. 14, 1965 E. J. BARTKOWSKI SHOE FITTING APPARATUS AND METHOD 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 29, 1963 INVENTOR. Edward J. Burtkowski Sept. 14, 1965 E. J. BARTKOWSKI SHOE FITTING APPARATUS AND METHOD 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 29, 1963 INVENTOR.

Edward J. Bankowski United States Patent 3,205,578 SHUE FITTING APPARATUS AND METHOD Edward J. Bartkowski, 3015 S. 13th St., Milwaukee, Wis. Filed Aug. 29, 1963, Ser. No. 305,919 4 Claims. ((11. 33-3) This application is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 71,061, entitled Shoe Fitting Apparatus and Method, filed Nov. 22, 1960, by the present inventor.

This invention relates to a shoe fitting device and more particularly to apparatus and to a method of measuring the length and width of a persons foot and thereafter, indicating precisely the corresponding dimensions and contours of a shoe to provide such foot with a properlyfitting shoe.

The usual technique employed in fitting shoes is to measure the overall length of the foot and the maximum width thereof, and thereafter to select a pair of shoes from the shelf having the corresponding length and width dimensions. This prevailing technique wholly disregards the shape and relative dimensions of the foot and can often result in an improper and uncomfortable fitting shoe. Further differences arise from the fact that shoes, in addition to being made in conformance to standard lengths and widths, are also fabricated in accordance with various standard lasts as well as styles. Most shoe manufacturers use a plurality of different lasts and often have several different styles for each last. As a shoe last is simply a pattern or shape, it will be readily apparent that the particular last as well as the length and width must be taken into consideration in fitting shoes properly.

Heretofore, the only shoe-fitting technique generally employed which took into account the specific shape of a persons foot involved X-ray examination. This type of commercial use of fluoroscopy has been recognized to be dangerous especially when repeated frequently and has been now barred by statute in many areas. In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to provide apparatus and a method for quickly, conveniently, and precisely fitting shoes to a persons foot in accordance with the individual shape and requirements thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for gaging the general outer contour of a foot at the first metatarsophalangeal joint, that is, the big toe joint, and for ascertaining with accuracy the distance therefrom and from the heel of the foot to the outer extremities of the toes to correlate such contours and dimensions with the corresponding contours and dimensions of a shoe. The second measuring is done with the same device and by the same method to properly fit the foot with the shoe.

Still another object is to provide shoe-fitting apparatus having a contour indicating device equipped with at least one concavely-curved face adapted to be disposed along the inner side of a foot in close-fitting relationship with the outer radial contour of the first metatarsophalangeal joint to establish the relative position thereof, and in which the apparatus is further equipped with structure for measuring the distance between such joint of the foot and the extremities of the toes thereof.

A further object is in the provision of apparatus of the character described which is inexpensive, which affords no hazard or inconvenience, either to the person using the apparatus or to the one being fitted thereby, which is compact, easy to read, and may be appropriately calibrated for direct reading and employed without extensive training of personnel.

The above and other objects of the invention which are inherent in the disclosure and will become apparent upon reading the balance of the specification are attained in accordance with aspects of this invention which are Patented Sept. 14, 1965 broadly directed to a shoe-fitting apparatus and method which obviates many of the disadvantageous limitations of the prior art.

In one embodiment of the present invention a shoefitting apparatus is provided which comprises an elongate member suitable for lengthwise positioning adjacent the side of a persons foot, which member is equipped with a transversely-extending toe-positioning element adapted to be placed in abutment with the toes and more generally with the longest toe of the foot and also with a body member having at least one concavely-curved face adapted to be disposed along the inner side of the foot in closefitting relationship with the outer radial contour of the first metatarsophalangeal joint to establish the relative positions thereof, wherein the transversely extending element and the body member are relatively movable in the longitudinal direction to adjust the distance therebetween in accordance with the length of the foot between the outer extremities of the toes and the metatarsophalangeal joint. The curved face flares upwardly and outwardly so that the corners thereof lie in an oblique plane which intersects at an acute angle the vertical plane coaxial With the longitudinal axis of the elongate member.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be understood more clearly and fully from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the shoe-fitting device of the instant invention actually being employed to measure the distance between the first metatarsophalangeal joint of a foot and the extremities of the toes thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the device shown in FIGURE 1 illustrating its use in a subsequent step of the shoe-fitting operation to indicate precisely toe position in the shoe;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective view of one embodiment of the shoe-fitting appaartus of the instant invention illustrating one form of construction;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view of a portion of the apparatus of FIGURE 3 exemplifying, for illustrative purposes, one embodiment of the subject invention in which the contour-indicating device has a plurality of concavely curved generally-quadrilateral faces, the corners of each face lying in an oblique plane;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged side view of apparatus similar to that of FIGURE 3, partially broken and sectioned showing a swivel-type construction whereby the concavelycurved faces can be rotated to selectively bring one into engagement with the foot, and further show a transversely-extending heel-positioning element slideably disposed within a hollow elongate member which is adapted to be placed in abutment with the heel of the foot;

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatical view of the shoe-fitting apparatus of FIGURE 5 as used to measure the length of the foot;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of th shoe fitting device;

FIGURE 8 is a side view, partially broken and sectioned, of the device of FIGURE 7 illustrating one form of coinstruction; and

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the device of FIG- URE 7 illustrating the method of fitting a foot using this device.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it is seen that the exemplary embodiment of the subject invention shown in FIGURE 1 comprises three main componentsan elongate member 2 suitable for lengthwise positioning adjacent the side of a persons foot 10, a transverselyextending toe-positioning element 6 adapted to be placed in abutment with the toes of the foot and a contour-indicating device or body member 4, having at least one concavely-curved face. The contour-gaging device denoted generally With the numeral 4 has a lower or base portion of pseudo star-shaped configuration in bottom plan, as shown best in FIGURE 4. This portion of the contour-indicating device is provided with a plurality of concavely-curved faces, there being four thereof in the specific illustration respectively denoted with the numerals 33, 33 33" and 33'.

Each of the concavely-curved faces is of general quadilateral configuration having radii of curvatures which differ from the other concavely-curved faces. More specifically, the arcuate length of face 33 is quite short and the are of curvature extends inwardly toward the center of the device to a greater extent than the arcs of the other faces. In contrast to this, the face 33" has the greatest arcuate length and this face is the most shallow of the four and forms the silghtest inward extension toward the center of the device. The other faces 33 and 33" also differ from the other segments in a corresponding manner.

The contour-indicating device slopes upwardly and outwardly from the bottom thereof, and at its upper end defines a boss or mounting element 34 that can be formed integrally with the remainder of the indicating device or can be a separate component secured thereto in any suitable manner. The boss 34 is provided with a pair of passages 39 that extend therethrough in an intersecting relationship and are disposed at right angles with respect to each other. As can be seen most clearly in FIGURE 3, the passages respectively extend along the center lines between the concavely-curved faces 33-33" and 33'-33"' and consequently, and portions of these passages are oriented ina condition of general alignment with respective faces. The passages 39 are adapted to movably pass therethrough the aforementioned elongate member 2 which, in the form shown, is a bar or cylindrical rod. The position of the contour-indicating device 4 along the length of elongate member 2 can be readily fixed by set screw 36 which is threadedly received within a bore therefor provided in the boss 34 at substantially the center thereof and the set screw can be equipped with a large, knurled knob at the upper end thereof to facilitate its manipulation.

At one end thereof, the elongate member 2 is equipped with a transversely-extending toe-positioning element 6 which, in the form shown, constitutes an arm or plate 31 that extends laterally outwardly from the member 2 on one side thereof. The arm 31 can be pivotally or fiixedly secured to elongate member 2 and in the specific illustration, has been drilled out for attachment to member 2 by rivet or other means 37 which may include a set screw 59 as shown in FIGURE 3 to prevent removal of the arm 31. The transversely-extending element 6 includes a further arm 40 pivotally connected to the arm 31 by a pivot pin 41 which extends through the overlapping end portions of the arms. the outer end portion of the transversely-extending element is movable with respect to the member 2 in a plane generally normal to the longitudinal axis thereof. If desired, the transversely-extending toe-positioning element 6 can be constructed to move in the same plane as the longitudinal axis of elongate member 2.

The elongate member 2 can be equipped .with indicia along the lengththereof which may be in the form of graduations or marks 38 as shown in FIGURE 3, denoting incremental lengths or shoe sizes or fitting information related to such lengths.

The illustrative embodiment of the subject apparatus shown in FIGURES 1-6 may best be understood by a consideration of FIGURE 3 in which the apparatus comprices an elongate member 2 suitable for lengthwise positioning against the side of a persons foot, which elongate member is equipped with a transversely-extending toe- Therefore, at least,

positioning element adapted to be placed in abutment with the toes of the foot. The elongate member is also equipped with a body member 4 having at least one concavely-curved face 33 adapted to be disposed along the inner side of the foot in close-fitting relationship with the outer radial contour of the first metatarsophalangeal joint to establish the relative position thereof. The corners of the curved face 33 lie in an oblique plane intersecting at an acute angle the vertical plane coaxial with the longitudinal axis of elongate member 2. The transversely-extending element 40 and the body member 4 both are relatively movable in the longitudinal direction to adjust the distance therebetween in accordance with the length of a foot between the outer extremities of the toes and the first metatarsophalangeal joint.

The shoe-fitting method of the instant invention includes the step of first gaging the outer radial contour of the first metatarsophan-langeal joint of a foot by placing the various eoncavely-curved faces 33, 33, 33" or 33" along such portion of the foot as shown in FIGURE 1 to find the face which most closely approximates such curvature of a big toe joint. With the apparatus described above, this is done most conveniently by releasing the screw 36 and removing the body member 4 from the elongate member 2, in which case the member 4 can be turned freely to successively dispose each of the faces against the foot. After the proper face is determined, the member 2 is inserted into the proper passage from the appropriate end thereof and the toe-positioning element 40 is bought into abutment with the toes. Thereafter, screw 36 is tightened to fix this relationship.

Thereafter, the apparatus can then be employed as shown best in FIGURE 2 to fit the foot with a shoe 20. In this operation, the appropriate face of the body member 4 is disposed along the inner surface of the shoe 20 at a location corresponding to the first metatarsophalangeal joint so that the transversely-extending element 40 shows the location along the shoe of the outer extremities of the toes within the shoe and thus determines if the shoe is of the proper length as well as of the proper shape or last. A feature of the instant invention is the discovery that by angling the concavely-curved face so that the corners of the curved face lie in an oblique plane intersection at an acute angle the vertical plane coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the elongate member, it is possible to obtain a precise and accurate indication of the first metatarsophanlangeal joint to establish the relative position thereof and the distance to the outer extremities of the toes. The close-fitting ofthe device to the foot is indicated be reference numeral 12 in FIGURE 1. Similarly, close fitting can be obtained even after the shoe is on the foot as indicated by reference numeral 22 in FIG- URE 2.

In this connection, it is noted that the acute angle generally will be in the range of about 5 degrees to 25 degrees for the large faces and in the range of about 10 degrees to 30 degrees for the small faces. Most advantageously, angles of about 15 and 20 degrees, respecitively, are used. C-lose fitting of the contour-indicating device is facili-ated with childrens shoes by the notches 44 and 45 cut out of the bottom portion of the small faces 33 and 33". Positioning of the contour-indicating device on the sole or welt 28 of a childs shoe is illustrated in FIGURE 2. By this construction, precise positioning of the big toejoint is obtained permitting an exact location of the toes after the foot has been fitted with the shoe.

A modified embodiment of the apparatus is illustrated in FIGURE 5. In this embodiment, the elongate member 2 and the transversely-extending element 6 are the same as in the structure heretofore described. Consequently, the alteration in construction involves the condevice from the elongate member 2. Thus, the lower portion 35 of the device is formed separately from the boss or mounting member 34 which has but one passage extending therethrough for slidably receiving the member 2 therein, and the set screw 36 may again be employed to releasably fix the location of the contour-indicating device along the length of member 2. Various arrangements can be employed to rotatably secure the component 35 to the boss 34 such as step-by-step indexing structure. In FIGURE 5, the component 35 is shown to have a vertically-oriented bore therethrough, the upper end of which is restricted and rotatably receives a depending portion having a restricted cross section of the boss 34. A- screw 55 suitably provided with an appropriate washer 54 can be used to secure the component 35 to the boss 34 while affording relatively free rotation therebetween. Means providing indexing are provided which, in the instant embodiment, comprise springs 51 and bearings 52 disposed in suitably oriented bores at right angles to each face adapted to fit the bearings into corresponding sockets spaced at 90 degree intervals around the restricted portion of the boss 34 to thereby provide four locking positions when the faces are rotated into the desired position.

FIGURE 5 also illustrates another modification of the instant invention. In this construction, elongate member 2 is formed of a cylinder and a second cylinder or rod of smaller diameter adapted for a telescoping fit therewith is slida bly disposed within member 2. A transverselyextending heel-positioning element 62 attached, as for eX- ample, by screw 63 is secured to elongate member 60 to thereby permit measurement of the entire length of the foot when placed in abutment with the heel. This measurement is more clearly shown in FIGURE 6 illustrating use of the device for measuring foot length.

It will be appreciated that the apparatus can have numerous structural variants, for example, an arrangement in which the body member 4 is fixedly secured to member 2 so as to prevent relative longitudinal movement therebetween and in which relative longitudinal move ment between the body member and the toe-positioning element is afforded by making the toe-positioning element longitudinally movable along the rod 2, either directly or through telescoping rods and the like.

An alternative embodiment in which both the contour-gaging device and the transversely-extending toepositioning element are longitudinallymovable along the rod, is particularly useful in the fitting of very small feet, that is, for example, infant size 2 up to a shoe size of 3 suitable for youths and young misses. In this form of construction, generally an eight to ten inch elongate member will be used with a heel-positioning element affixed to one end. A contour-gaging device will b slid- 'ab1y disposed upon the rod between the heel-positioning element and a transversely-extending toe-positioning element which is also slidably disposed upon the elongate member. Both are adapted for temporary securing to the rod by means of set screws or the like so that each can be individually positioned after the position of the first metatarsophalangeal joint and the length of the toes has been established with reference to the heel.

The above-described embodiment of the instant invention is preferred when small children and infants are -to be fitted or in other instances where the outer radial contour of the first metatarsophalangeal joint is not very pronounced. In these cases, the shoe-fitting apparatus serves the dual purpose of indicating both the position of the big toe joint and the position of the toes in the .shoe. In use, the heel-positioning element is first brought up against the back of the heel with the apparatus in position along the inner side of the foot. Thereafter, the

contour-gaging device and the toe-positioning element are both secured along the length of the rod by tightening the set screws on each. After the small foot has been placed in the shoe, the apparatus is again positioned with the heel-positioning element in place so that the contourgaging device and toe-positioning element accurately indicate the position of the big toe joint and the toes in the shoe.

Further, it is understood that while the contour-indicating device must have at least one concavely-curved face adapted to be disposed along the inner side of a foot in close-fitting relationship with the outer radial contour of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, that the invention also contemplates the use of a plurality of faces which, for example, can be two, three, four, five, or even more. Generally, however, four faces of appropriate sizes will be sufficient. Also, while it has been indicated that the concavely-curved faces preferably will have a generally quadrilateral configuration, it is understood that a generally triangular concavely curved and angled in the manner described can also be utilized. In this embodiment, the base of the triangle preferably will be oriented adjacent the sole of the foot with the corners lying in an oblique plane intersecting in an acute angle the vertical plane coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the elongate member.

From the above it is seen that the shoe fitting apparatus of FIGS. 5 and 6 comprises an elongate member such as a rod or tube provided with a transversely-extending, toepositioning element adapted to be placed in abutment with the toes of the foot being measured and also with a transversely-extending, heel-positioning element adapted to be placed in abutment with the heel of the foot to measure the over-all length of the foot. At least the outer end portion of the toe-positioning elements is pivotally mounted for movement with respect to the elongate ment ber in a plane generally normal to the longitudinal axis thereof, whereby, after the foot has been measured and the shoe placed upon the foot, the apparatus can again be postioned on the side of the foot with the heel-positioning element in place on the heel of the foot and the toe-positioning element raised so that at least the outer end portion thereof rests on the shoe directly over the toes inside to accurately indicate the position of the longest toe in the shoe. In this design the thickness of the toe-positioning element is chosen to compensate for the thickness of the shoe leather at the back of the heel so that the outer edge of the toe-positioning element now marks the position of the toes in the shoe rather than the inner edge against which the toes abutted before the shoe was put on. In a preferred embodiment, the heel-positioning element is pivotally mounted for swinging movement in a plane at right angles to the longitudinal axi of the elongate member so that is can be raised for positioning on the tendon of the foot above the collar of the shoe after the initial measurement for correct shoe length has been made and the apparatus is repositioned on the foot to indicate toe position in the shoe.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, the elongate member is a rigid rod of e.g. metal of generally square cross-sectional configuration approximately inch on a side having suitable etched markings 71 to indicate length and width for a full range of shoe sizes. A transversely-extending, toe-positioning bar 72 is pivotally mounted for movement with respect to the elongate rod in a plane generally normal to the longitudinal axis of the rod, by means of nut 73, spring washer 74 and bolt 75 extending through the bar and the lower portion of measuring block 76 which is slideably disposed on elongate rod 70. By means of this construction and step 77 in the lower face of the measuring block 76, the toe bar 72 can be moved through an angle of approximately 250 for use with both left and right feet.

A transversely-extending, heel-positioning plate 78 adapted to be placed in abutment with the heel of either foot is pivotally mounted on extension pin 81 at one end of rod 70 with spring washer 82 and lock-nut 83 for 360 movement in a plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the elongate rod 70. The other end of the rod is preferably provided with suitable handle means of plastic or the like, such as handle 85 which is shown screwed onto the end rod 70 using a suitable metal bushing 87.

As can be seen in FIG. 8, the measuring block 76 is slideably disposed on rod 70 by suitable friction means including plastic friction rider button 84, coil spring 86 and machine screw 88. While in the embodiment shown it is seen that the heel-positioning plate is fixed in the longitudinal direction and the toe-positioning element is movable to adjust the distance there-between, it is understood that the opposite construction can be employed or alternatively, that both can be movable along the longitudinal axis of the elongate member 70 if desired.

In a preferred embodiment, a ball indicator or-contourindicating device, designated generally at '79 is provided having a body member 80 having at least one concavelycurved face 92 adapted to be disposed along the inner side of the left foot in close-fitting relationship with the outer radial contour of the first metatarsophalangeal joint to establish the relative position thereof. Body member 80 is of symmetrical configuration about the vertical plane corresponding with the longitudinal axis of the rod 70 so that the opposite face 93 is identical with face 92 and can be used with the opposite foot. The ball indicator 79 is vslideably disposed on rod 70 using suitable friction means in measuring block 94 including a plastic friction rider button 95, coil spring 96 and machine screw 97.

In accordance with the present invention the novel apparatus is used in the following method illustrated more fully in FIGURE 9. Holding the apparatus by handle 85, the overall length of the foot to be fitted is measured by applying the heel disc (positioning plate 78) to the persons heel with the apparatus positioned lengthwise adjacent the side of the foot and sliding the toe-ppsitioning bar 72 against the longest toe. Foot size is read directly from the top scale 91 at the arrow L on measuring block 76. The ball indicator 79 is then positioned to the ball of the foot with the curved face of the body member 80 snug against the big-toe joint to measure the distance between the first metatarsophalangeal joint and the end of the toes to determine whether an adjustment in shoe size from that indicated by the length measurement is necessary. The width of the foot is measured between the toe bar 72 and face 98 of the body member 80 and the proper shoe is then chosen with reference to the length and width measurements obtained.

In the novel method of this invention, before the shoe is fitted to the foot, the device is placed against the foot and the distance between the toe-positioning member and the heel-positioning member is adjusted to correspond exactly with the distance between a point on the heel tendon of the foot that will be above the collar of the shoe to be fitted, and the longest toe of the foot. If the device also includes a ball indicator, it can be set on the big toe joint. Thereafter, when the shoe has been placed on the foot, the device is again applied to the foot with the heelpositioning member on the same point of the tendon and the toe-positioning member on top of the tip of the shoe to indicate the exact position of the longest toe in the shoe lying direcly beneath the toe-positioning member. If the ball indicator is used, the position of the ball of the foot in the shoe is similarly shown.

As can be clearly seen from the above the novel method of this invention can be practiced using the apparatus heretofore described in which the heel-positioning element is pivotally mounted for swinging movement in a plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the measuring stick so that it can be raised for positioning on the tendon of the foot after the initial measurement from the heel has been made to measure the length of the foot. It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed herein and in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A shoe-fitting apparatus for measuring over-all foot length and foot width of a persons foot in the fitting of both right and left shoes comprising,

an elongate member suitable for lengthwise positioning adjacent the side of a persons foot,

a transversely extending toe-positioning element provided on said elongate member and movable angularly with respect to said elongate member for right and left feet and shoes therefor,

said toe-positioning element being adapted to be placed in abutment with the end of the longest toe of said right or left foot,

a transversely extending heel-positioning element provided on said elongate member and movable angularly with respect to said elongate member for right and left feet and shoes therefor,

said heel-positioning element being adapted to be placed in abutment with the heel tendon of said right or left foot, and

means for adjusting the distance between the toe-positioning and heel-positioning elements to establish the distance between the end of the longest toe and the heel tendon for either the right or left foot when the persons weight is placed thereon, and to indicate the location of the toes of either foot of the person when the shoe to be fitted is placed on the respective foot of the person and the shoe-fitting apparatus is replaced in its adjusted position, with the heel positioning element abutting the heel tendon and the toe-positioning element positioned on top of the shoe to indicate the position of the longest toe therewithin.

2. A shoe-fitting apparatus for measuring over-all foot length and foot width of a persons foot in the fitting of both right and left shoes comprising,

an elongate member suitable for lengthwise positioning adjacent the side of a persons foot,

a transversely extending toe-positioning element provided on said elongate member and movable angularly with respect to said elongate member for right and left feet and shoes therefor,

said toe-positioning element being adapted to be placed in abutment with the end of the longest toe of said right or left foot,

a transversely extending heel-positioning element provided on said elongate member and movable angularly with respect to said elongate member for right and left feet and shoes therefor,

said heel-positioning element being adapted to be placed in abutment with the heel tendon of said right or left foot, and

ball indicating means slidably mounted on said elongate member and adapted to be adjustably aflixed thereto in the adjusted position for each foot for measuring the distance between the first metatarsophalangeal joint and the end of the toes, and

means for adjusting the distance between the toe-positioning and heel-positioning elements to establish the distance between the end of the longest toe and the heel tendon for either the right or left foot when the persons weight is placed thereon, and to indicate the location of the toes of either foot of the person when the shoe to be fitted is placed on the respective foot of the person and the shoe-fitting apparatus is replaced in its adjusted position, with the heel-positioning element abutting the heel tendon and the ball indicating means abutting the first metatarsophalangeal joint and the toe-positioning element positioned on top of the shoe to indicate the position of the longest toe therewithin.

3. In a method of fitting shoes employing a measuring stick equipped with a toe-positioning member and a heelpositioning member, the steps of placing the measuring stick alongside the foot of the person to be fitted with the persons weight placed on the foot,

adjusting the distance between the toe-positioning member and the heel-positioning member to correspond exactly with the distance between the point of abutment of the heel-positioning member with the heel tendon of the foot and the point of abutment of the toe-positioning member with the tip of the longest toe of the toot, and

thereafter when the shoe has been placed on the foot, 10

placing the adjusted measuring stick back on the foot with the heel-positioning member in abutment with the same point of the tendon above the collar of the shoe and with the toe-positioning member placed on top of the tip of the shoe to indicate the position of the end of the longest toe in the shoe.

4. In a method of fitting shoes employing a measuring stick equipped with a toe-positioning member, a ball-positioning member and a heel-positioning member, the steps of placing the measuring stick alongside the foot of the person to be fitted with the persons weight placed on the foot,

adjusting the distance between the toe-positioning member and the heel-positioning member to correspond exactly with the distance between the point of abutment of the heel-positioning member with the heel tendon of the foot and the point of abutment of the toe-positioning member with the tip of the longest toe of the foot,

placing the ball-positioning member against the ball of of the foot, and

thereafter when the shoe has been placed on the foot,

placing the adjusted measuring stick back on the foot with the heel-positioning member in abutment with the same point of the tendon above the collar of the 10 shoe, with the ball-positioning member in abutment with the side of the shoe against the ball of the foot and With the toe-positioning member placed on top of the tip of the shoe to indicate the position of the end of the longest toe in the shoe.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,527,168 10/50 Wehler 33-174 FOREIGN PATENTS 80,252 3/95 Germany. 332,859 11/58 Switzerland.

References Cited by the Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS 751,621 2/04 Elmasian.

802,448 10/05 Goodbar. 1,029,767 6/ 12 Remington. 1,283,409 10/18 Hobart. 1,529,167 3/25 Clausing. 1,850,852 3/32 Scholl. 2,200,223 2/39 Brown. 2,522,899 9/50 Schlaugh et a1. 2,527,168 10/ Wehler. 2,531,477 11/50 Smith. 2,778,112 1/57 Van Buren. 3,018,554 1/ 62 Roberson.

FOREIGN PATENTS 918,752 12/45 France.

80,252 3/ Germany. 317,206 8/ 15 Great Britain.

ISAAC LISANN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SHOE-FITTING APPARATUS FOR MEASURING OVER-ALL FOOT LENGTH AND FOOT WIDTH OF A PERSON''S FOOT IN THE FITTING OF BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT SHOES COMPRISING, AN ELONGATE MEMBER SUITABLE FOR LENGTHWISE POSITIONING ADJACENT THE SIDE OF A PERSON''S FOOT, A TRANVERSELY EXTENDING TOE-POSITIONING ELEMENT PROVIDED ON SAID ELONGATE MEMBER AND MOVABLE ANGULARLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID ELONGATE MEMBER FOR RIGHT AND LEFT FEET ND SHOES THEREFOR, SAID TOE-POSITIONING ELEMENT BEING ADAPTED TO BE PLACED IN ABUTMENT WITH THE END OF THE LONGEST TOE OF SAID RIGHT OR LEFT FOOT, A TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING HEEL-POSITIONING ELEMENT PROVIDED ON SAID ELONGATE MEMBER AND MOVABLE ANGULARLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID ELONGATE MEMBER FOR RIGHT AND LEFT FEET AND SHOES THEREFOR, SAID HEEL-POSITIONING ELEMENT BEING ADAPTED TO BE PLACED IN ABUTMENT WITH THE HEEL TENDON OF SAID RIGHT OR LEFT FOOT, AND MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TOE-POSITIONING AND HEEL-POSITIONING ELEMENTS TO ESTABLISH THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE END OF THE LONGEST TOE AND THE HEEL TENDON FOR EITHER THE RIGHT OR LEFT FOOT WHEN THE PERSON''S WEIGHT IS PLACED THEREON, AND TO INDICATE THE LOCATION OF THE TOES OF EITHER FOOT OF THE PERSON WHEN THE SHOE TO BE FITTED IN PLACED ON THE RESPECTIVE FOOT OF THE PERSON AND THE SHOE-FITTING APPARATUS IS REPLACED IN ITS ADJUSTED POSITION, WITH THE HEELPOSITIONING ELEMENT ABUTTING THE HEEL TENDON AND THE TOE-POSITIONING ELEMENT POSITIONED ON TOP OF THE SHOE TO INDICATE THE POSITION OF THE LONGEST TOE THEREWITHIN. 